MADISON, Wis. — Jim Harbaugh smacked his hands together and pumped his fist.

After nearly 40 minutes of football, his team – hampered by injury, youth and misfires all season – had found a way to take the lead at unbeaten Wisconsin.

A football game is not a 40 minutes, though. And roughly 4 minutes later, everything changed.

The Wolverines held on, then slipped, then toppled over Saturday afternoon during a 24-10 loss at Wisconsin. And now, after losing another game against a ranked foe and starting quarterback Brandon Peters to a head injury in the same afternoon, things aren't looking bright for Michigan on the eve of its annual tilt with Ohio State.

After allowing Wisconsin punt returner Nick Nelson to rip through tackles on a 50-yard punt return for a score late in the first quarter, U-M found itself with a first and goal inside the 10 on its following drive after Peters hit tight end Zach Gentry for 35 yards.

Two plays later, though, Peters stretched out for the goal line and lost the football via fumble to Wisconsin on the 1-yard line. Peters got the Wolverines back to square after engineering an impressive 84-yard drive, capped by a Ben Mason 1-yard plunge.

Michigan quarterback Brandon Peters is carted from the field after being injured during the third quarter against Wisconsin, Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis.(Photo: Mark Hoffman, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

The Wolverines had another possession that started in Badger territory early in the third quarter, but had a false start penalty on first down. The drive ended in a punt.

Still, U-M scrapped its way to a three-point lead after Nordin was able to convert a Devin Bush Jr. interception into a field goal with 6:36 left in the quarter.

Wisconsin quarterback Alex Hornibrook beat freshman Jaylen Kelly-Powell down the sideline for 51 yards on a third-and-16 pass to A.J. Taylor to extend the Badgers' next drive. Three plays later, on third-and-long again, Hornibrook beat Khaleke Hudson and Josh Metellus – again to Taylor – for a 24-yard touchdown to give the Badgers the lead right back.

On Michigan's following possession, things got worse, as Peters took a big hit from Wisconsin linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel on a third down pass attempt. Peters' head hit the ground and he remained on the turf motionless for several moments before being carted off the field. Peters was eventually taken to an area hospital to undergo tests for a head injury.

Here’s the hit Wisconsin’s Andrew Van Ginkel put on Michigan’s Brandon Peters that knocked him out of the game. pic.twitter.com/XPg5U0JBft

"In the huddle we wanted to do it for BP," Michigan running back Chris Evans said. "(John) O'Korn came into the huddle and said it himself, 'hey, let's do this for BP.' "

It didn't happen, though, as U-M punted on the next play and allowed the Badgers to march 61 yards on just five plays – the capper coming on a 32-yard reverse touchdown run from Kendric Pryor to make it 21-10 with 24 seconds left in the third.

In roughly 6 minutes of game time, Michigan went from up three to down 11 with a starting quarterback out due to injury.

Eleven points was, basically, insurmountable – as U-M gained just 23 yards in the fourth quarter with O'Korn at quarterback.

Peters finished the game 9 of 18 for 157 yards, but was pounded most of the afternoon behind an offensive line that carved out just 58 rushing yards on 37 attempts. In three games against defenses ranked in the top 25 nationally this season, U-M has rushed for just 263 yards on 118 carries, an average of 2.2 yards per carry.

Michigan freshman receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones made four receptions for 64 yards but did have a first-half catch in the end zone wiped out on a call Harbaugh thought was incorrect.

In the second half Saturday, U-M was outgained, 226-65.

Up next for the Wolverines is an annual regular-season finale with Ohio State. Harbaugh's current record against his two chief rivals – OSU and Michigan State – is 1-4.

With all that happened Saturday, it will take a supreme effort in Ann Arbor to get a No. 2 in that win column.

"The game was in our hands coming out of the second half and we didn't execute, there has to be more execution coming into this next game," Hurst said. "It's big. I haven't beaten (Ohio State) since I've been here. It's such a big opportunity to play them and try to grind out a win by any means necessary."